Direction indicator



Sept 3, 1929. A. H. MEISENHEIMER 1,726,910

DIRECTION INDICATCR Filed Feb. 25, 1927 www Atlorney Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN H. MEISENHEIMER, F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

DIRECTION INDICATOR.

Application filed February 23, 1927.

My present invention relates to an improved direction indicator for use on automotive vehicles, aircraft and water craft, as well as for use as a stationary or fixed indicator for directing or indicating traiiic movements. As herein illustrated and described I have referred to the indicator as carried at both or either the front or back parts of an automotive vehicle for the purpose of signaling or indicating intended movements of the vehicle so equipped, but it will be understood that the indicator is capable of being adapted for various other purposes as above indicated.

The indicator is of the changeable, electrically illuminated type involving the use of colored or contrasting glass panels for the signals or indications, and arrows are em ployed as the symbols for indicating direction. The signal box for the indicators provides for a compact arrangement of a plurality of signals and suitable electric lighting or lamp circuits are used, and in some instances jointlyT used, for displaying a selected signal. Electro-magnetos are employed in connection with the plurality of signals for controlling the joint display of parts of the indicator selected from the plural signals. The usual forward right and i left turns are indicated as well as backward tions and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according' to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing one of the faces of the double-face signal box, as used on an automotive vehicle.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional detail view the interior arrangement.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the double face signal box.

Figure 4: is an enlarged sectional detail view at the center of the signal box, showing Serial N'o. 170,166.

the exterior edge of the signal, forming a conduit for the electric wires of the signal system.

As illustrated in Figure 1 the signal box 65 or casing is provided with an attaching base 1 by means of which it can be affixed to the automotive vehicle at a preferred location in order that both the front and rear faces of the box are visible to display signals simultaneously. The exterior wall of the box is indicated as 2 and the fronts arc provided with glass plates as 3 and f1. The glass panels or platesat the edges of the box are retained by means of metal plates 5 at the exterior of; the box and these plates are fashioned with flanges 6 that overlap the edges of the glass panels, there being screws 7 progided for securing the flanged plates to the At their inner adjoining edges the plates 5 are provided with curved or semi-circular flanges 8 and 9 that overlap to form conv duits that extend around the box for the electric wires to the lamps and magnets enclosed within the box, and openings 10 are Aprovided in the walls and partitions of the box for .the accommodation of the wires as they are led in from the conduit.

, The signal box is shaped like two squares superimposed with corners at the eight points of the compass to provide corners forming arrowhead compartments designated 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 in each of which is located an electric lamp 19. The

vglass panels 30 of these arrowheads may be colored, as red, to provide a contrast between the arrowhead and other parts of the face of the signal box, and the arrowhead compartments are separated from the interior of the box by partitions 21 and 22 arranged in sets v and forming the outline of the two squares. of the box with one face removed to disclose arcuate shape shafts`36 and 37 are formed in compartments that'are'bounded by'partitions V38, 39, 40 and 4'1, 42, respectively and at the ends of these shafts'the arrowheads are also located.

Thusthe left arcuate compartment 36 may be illuminated to form the shaft for the varrowhead 18 to indicate thatfthe'motorist intends to vturn'to the left while the shaft 37 and arrowhead 12 are illuminated to indicate -a1right`turn- If the 'caris to bebacked land turned at 4'thesame time the arrowheads 14 or 16 may be used with their complementary shafts or compartments. A vertical'arrow shaft with'double heads 11 and 15 may 'be displayed to indicate a stop while the Ilower shaft 30 and arrowhead 15 is used to indicate a backinglmovement of the automobile. Various other signals maybe displayed and signals may be made up of different parts of the arrowheads and shafts in arbitrary combinations"thatmayy be used to form a code of signals.

As the ktwo compartments 36 and 37 intersect 'at their centers, Vand for the' purpose of varying the formationvof the signals, means. are'provided for shutting olf one compartment from the th'er'at'this central point to formacomplete semi-'circular curve or compartment. This is accomplished by the utilization of a pair of movable partitions .44 and `4.5 ymade up of flat plates of resilient metal and lpivoted at'46 along ythe vertical vaxis ofthe signal box. The pivots are spaced apart from'the center of the signal boxand the resilient plates arevdesigned to swing laterally in order that their free ends may vcontact with'the curved partit-ions as 38 and 41 as indicated by dotted lines in. Figure 2.

When thefree ends of the plates are pressed e against the partitions-the resilient plates are bent or `flexed 'on the dotted lines to form continuations of these'partitions and confine the light to 'the' selected curved arrow-shaft. Each 'o'fthehingedplates is provided with a smaller plate as `47 and`48 that lform armatures' for the electro-magnets '50V andthe magnets are instrumentalin swinging'the resilient .plates aboveand below the singlellamp 49 that is used to illuminate. selectively, both of the curved arrow shafts. There are four of the magnets, a'pair for each resilient plate and they are connected in pairs in the lamp circuits with lamp 49. Thus if a right forward turn is to be indicated the circuits for the lamps 49, and 19 in compartment 12 are closed together with the circuit that controls the two magnets at the right of the center in Figure 4. When these magnets are energized the two resilient plates are swung laterally to the left in Figure 4 tocomplete the circular compartment 37.

Havincr thus fully described my invention, what I cIaim as new Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a signal box having interior compartments adapted to form signal outlines and means for illuminating selected compartments, of a glass front for said box, apair of fastening plates extending around the exterior ofthe box and complementary curved flanges on said plates forming a conduit for electric wires, said box having openings to the interior from said conduit, a glass front for the box and a retaining flange on each of said plates. f

2. A direction indicator comprising a signal box, partitions in said box forming a pair of spaced light heads 'and a lamp in eachy and desire toysecure by head, partitions forming a pair of intersect- 'ing light-shafts for said heads and separated therefrom, said shafts being unobstructed and a single lamp for illuminating said shafts, and means whereby the light may beA shut off from one shaft while the other shaft is illuminated. f

3. A direction indicator comprising a signal box, partitions in said box forming a pair of spaced light-heads and an electric lamp Vfor each head, intersecting light-shafts for said V.heads and separated therefrom, said shafts beino' unobstructed and a single electric lamp for illuminating the shafts, and

electro-magnetically vcontrolled means for shut-ting od therlig'ht from one shaft while the other is illuminated.

l4. In a signal box, the combination with partitions therein forming a pair of curved, intersecting light shafts having an unobstructed interior, and a single lamp for ilsaid plates whereby*anilluminated.shaft may beshut off from lthe remaining shafts.

In testimony whereofI affix my signature.

ALLEN H. MEIsENfH-EIMER. 

